Apparatus for grading apples and such like fruit.



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J. LOMAS. APPARATUS FOR GRADING APPLES AND suon LIKE FRUIT. APPLICATIONFILED DEG.26, 1908.

944,887. Patented Dec. 28,1909.

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J. LOMAS. APPARATUS FOR GRADING APPLES AND SUCH LIKE FRUIT.APPLIGATION'FILED 13130.26, 1908.

944,887. Patented Dec.28,1909.

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JOSEPH LOMAS, OF SOUTHBRIDGE, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA.

APPARATUS FOR GRADING APPLES AND SUCH LIKE FRUIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Application filed December 26, 19%. Serial No. 469,351.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH Loans, of Southbridge, Tasmania, Commonwealthof Australia, a subject of the King of Great Britain, orehardist, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for GradingApples and Such Like Fruit, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has been devised for the purpose of grading apples andother spherical fruits such as apricots, oranges and the like in amachine, so constructed, that it will easily and safely handle thefruit. Further, the working parts are so disposed that they are readilyinterchangeable for the purpose of adapting the machine to grade fruitsof widely varying sizes.

My invention is shown illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich,

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 shows one of the partitionswith attached fillets. Fig. #l

is a plan of the machine, and Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on theline A B, Fig. 4:.

The frame 1 is supported on legs 2 which are of sufiicient length toallow of a gentle slope sideways from the machine, of chutes hereafterto be described, that conduct the graded fruit to cases or otherreceptacles for holding it.

Mounted transversely in the frame are a number of rollers 3 mounted onspindles t. Each pair of rollers carries an endless belt 5 in which areperforations 6. The spindles are mounted in U shaped bearings 7 whichpermit of each belt or screen being lifted out of position bodily forpurpose of interchange.

At the head of the machine is a tray 8 that is baize covered and isintended for the reception of a supply of mixed fruit, say of apples.

Running longitudinally in the machine from the tray 8 are a number ofparallel partitions 9 which are shaped as shown in the drawings withhuminocks or elevations to which crosspieces 10 are screwed. Thesecrosspieces run transversely in the machine and rest lightly upon thetop of the machine frame, and thereby support the partitions whichtogether constitute a plurality of lanes or races running the length ofthe appliance. Attached to the foot of each partition 9 are fillets 11that are broadest at the head and gradually diminish as the foot of themachine is approached.

The perforations 6 in the belts 5 are arranged longitudinally in theraces or lanes, the smaller set being at the head of the machine. Theperforations in each succeeding band are slightly larger than those inthe preceding one until at the foot end of the apparatus the holes arelargest. The

system of bands 5 is driven by means of a.

handle 12 mounted on the spindle of t 1e end roller. Belts 13 convey themotion from the driving roller to the other rollers in the system. Thebands are so arranged in relation to the partitions that there is abrushing contact between the one and the other as the bands are moved,for the purpose hereafter to be explained.

hen a mixed supply of say, apples, is passed from the tray 8 to theraces, each apple will be supported at first by the fillets 11. Theholes 6 are of such a diameter as to approximately correspond with thedistance between the edges of the fillets at any section in the machine.As the bands move they will brush against the apple as it lies in therace and will thus cause it to move in the same direction as the band.\Vhen it has moved well into the race, if it is a small apple it willimmediately arrive at a point where the space between its supports isgreater than its diameter. At this point the weight of the apple will betaken by the band and it will fall through one of the perforationstherein. in order to safely receive it and to conduct it from themachine I provide canvas or other conductors let. These may be simplyconstructed of two parallel wires 15 secured transversely in the machineand connected at their middle parts by a short cross wire 16. Thislatter wire comes under the canvas and holds it up at the middle therebyproviding, with the parallel wires, a trough sloping gently each wayfrom the middle of the machine. The apple will fall into the conductorand will roll to the edge of the machine where it will pass through anopening 17. From the opening it will pass on to the inclined chute 18down which it will roll into the case or receptacle 19.

While I prefer to employ the system of perforated bands for the purposeof keeping the apples on the move, it is not absolutely necessary, as ifthe machine is slightly inclined it will be found that the fruit, particularly the heavier sorts, will readily gravitate along the races andwill fall through at the proper places on to their particularconductors.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the system of longitudinal races inclining fromthe head of the machine. To insure such being so I utilize a pair ofboards 20, constituting inclined planes, on which the crosspieces 10,which support the races will rest. Vith this arrangement it is notnecessary to use the moving bands 5 and the fruit will gravitate alongthe races until each piece falls through at the proper place into itsconductor lat. In this arrangement it will be noticed that the raceswill be inclined at the same time that the other parts in the machineremain in a horizontal position.

The rollers 3 are recessed to receive the driving belts 13. Thisarrangement will permit of the rollers being brought closer to getherbetween one band and another. But in case the interval between one bandand the next be too great, small V shaped pieces 21, shown in section inFig. 2, are placed between the bands. These insure that the fruit may,if necessary, pass from one band to the next. The pieces 21 may beattached to the partitions 9.

lVhile I have designed the machine for the grading of apples, it mayalso be used for grading other spherical fruit. The system of races,being suspended in the machine can be easily removed and another systemput in its place according to the fruit to be treated. The endless bandswith the rollers can also be quickly lifted out and other bands withdifferent perforations laced together and placed on the rollers, whichare easily dropped into their bearings 7.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. An apparatus for grading apples,comprising a tray at the upper end of the apparatus, a series ofparallel partitions extending from the inner end of the tray to theother end of the apparatus, said partitions having diminishing filletsat the lower edges, a system of perforated endless bands in brushlngcontact with the base of the fillets, the perforations corresponding insize with the spaces between the fillets, and canvas conductors arrangedbelow the fillets and inclining toward each side of the apparatus,substantially as described.

2. The combination of a plurality of parallel longitudinal races eachbeing open in its base which opening increases gradually in width fromhead to the foot of the machine, a system of perforated endless bands inbrushing contact with the base of the races the perforationscorresponding in size with the opening in the races, and conductorswithin the bands for conducting the fruit from the machine, as hereinspecified.

3. An apparatus for grading apples comprising a frame having uprightside walls, a plurality of longitudinal parallel partitions havingdiminishing fillets attached to the lower edges and raised portions atintervals along the upper edges, transverse bars secured to said raisedportions and adapted to rest on the upright walls of the frame so as tosupport the partitions and a system of perforated endless bands inbrushing contact with the base of the partitions, the

perforations corresponding in size with the spaces between the fillets.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH LOMAS lVitnesses:

H. C. TAPPING, (hms. L. C. IITLLER.

